Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Formula One is back in business in Bahrain with a simple message celebrating the uniF1cation of one nation in support of the world’s greatest motor racing spectacular.
The Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix will take place at the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) in Sakhir on April 20-22 and cut-price tickets to the event will be available with a 15 per cent discount for the next couple of weeks.
Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa, BIC chief executive, said: ìFor us as a kingdom it’s important to have this race because it benefits us so much.
ìPeople take for granted the advantages of F1. All the hotels are full; all the restaurants are full and even the airlines benefit as well.
"We see an economic impact of millions of dollars and, to me, that is important. After all, what we do, we do for Bahrain. That’s why we were so passionate in trying to bring this race back, because you see the locals for example at Block 338, or whatever venue, and they ask about the race. You talk to the taxi drivers and even they ask about the race.
"Why? Because everybody benefits and, personally, if something is good for the kingdom then we should all support it.
"This is why we should really unify behind this race and why our campaign is called UniF1ed, one nation in celebration.
"Sport brings people together, especially the truest and most dedicated of fans – be it in football, tennis, golf or motor racing, there is something special about sport that makes it a great unifier. We in Bahrain should feel extremely privileged to be part of an exclusive club of only a handful of countries who can say that they play host to a Grand Prix and are a part of the FIA Formula One World Championship. Our race is a source of pride!"
To bring the community together, the BIC has lined up a series of nationwide public events to help raise awareness of the race weekend and to get people burning-up with Formula One fever.
Race fans of all ages and nationalities will be able to take part in a ‘I Love Bahrain’ picture and video competition. Participants simply have to send in their favourite images taken during earlier Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix race weekends.
Selected entries will be put on display all over Bahrain, around the circuit itself and featured in GulfWeekly.
Among other community-based initiatives will be a ‘Build an F1 Car’ activity for schools and universities, the creation of F1-related sculptures and an art exhibition.
Bahrain’s Grand Prix will also boast a line-up of three international support race series to complement the Formula One action, headlined by the GP2 Series, which will be staging its second round of the 2012 season, the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup contest which will be holding its opening round and the final stage of the WGA Supercars Championship Middle East.
The circuit will also be hosting plenty of recreational activities for families and racing fans to enjoy at the Formula One Village behind the main grandstand along with stilt walkers, street performers, buskers, balloon modellers, magicians and caricaturists who will be interacting with the large crowds.
The full entertainment itinerary will be announced shortly and to combat the heat, there will be three fully air-conditioned tents solely catering to children’s entertainment. Furthermore, there will be a spectacular exhibition of 20 of McLaren’s greatest Formula One cars.
Shaikh Salman said: "We still have many surprises to come. For us right now there is a lot of work to be done and while, yes, we are announcing the launch of the race, the logistical side of running a Grand Prix is still difficult and there is still plenty to do."
This week’s press conference confirmed GulfWeekly’s front page exclusive last November which revealed how F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone along with the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) were confident that the race would go on in Bahrain for the 2012 calendar as scheduled.
Tickets are now available at the BIC stand located at Bahrain City Centre.
They can also be bought online at www.bahraingp.com or by calling the circuit’s hotline on 17450000.
